servant in
presence of her former mistress, who, indeed, would have laughed to see
her established in the lodge with all the airs and graces of a woman of
the world.

The rancorous enmity which existed between the Reyberts and the Moreaus
came from a wound inflicted by Madame de Reybert upon Madame Moreau on
the first occasion when the latter assumed precedence over the former on
her first arrival at Presles, the wife of the steward being determined
not to allow her supremacy to be undermined by a woman nee de Corroy.
Madame de Reybert thereupon reminded, or, perhaps, informed the whole
country-side of Madame Moreau's former station. The words "waiting-maid"
flew from lip to lip. The envious acquaintances of the Moreaus
throughout the neighborhood from Beaumont to Moisselles, began to carp
and criticize with such eagerness that a few sparks of the conflagration
fell into the Moreau household. For four years the Reyberts, cut dead
by the handsome Estelle, found themselves the objects of so much
animadversion on the part of the adherents of the Moreaus that their
position at Presles would not have been endurable without the thought of
vengeance which had, so far, supported them.

The Moreaus, who were very friendly with Grindot the architect, had
received notice from him of the early arrival of the two painters sent
down to finish the decorations of the chateau, the principal paintings
for which were just completed by Schinner. The great painter had
recommended for this work the artist who was accompanied by Mistigris.
For two days past Madame Moreau had been on the tiptoe of expectation,
and had put herself under arms to receive him. An artist, who was to be
her guest and companion for weeks, demanded some effort. Schinner and
his wife had their own apartment at the chateau, where, by the count's
express orders, they were treated with all the consideration due to
himself. Grindot, who stayed at the steward's house, showed such respect
for the great artist that neither the steward nor his wife had attempted
to put themselves on familiar terms with him. Moreover, the noblest and
richest people in the surrounding country had vied with each other in
paying attention to Schinner and his wife. So, very well pleased
to have, as it were, a little revenge of her own, Madame Moreau was
determined to cry up the artist she was now expecting, and to present
him to her social circle as equal in talent to the great Schinner.

Thoug